Easy Virtue

It's not that there's anything particularly spectacular about the plot of Easy Virtue (a Noel Coward play concerning Larita, a female motorcar racer from America who weds a member of the British aristocracy and finds herself thrust up against any amount of stiff upper lips, snobbishness and clipped vowels); it's the fact that the story is executed with such precision and panache.

For starters, we welcome the return of Stephan Elliott (director of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), back after a hiatus of nearly a decade. Joining him we have the reassuring presence of Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth as our lady driver's new in-laws, not to mention new British eye-candy Ben Barnes as her beau.

And then, of course, we have Jessica Biel who, as the fashionable, foxy Larita, reveals herself to be an actress of subtlety and wit.

It's a keenly observed romantic comedy, stripped of the mushy Hollywood stuff, and soundtracked by a mix of modern reworkings and original Cole Porter tunes. In short, there's very little not to like. ·